Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-11-03
CONFESSING CHRIST.
EXPLANATORY NOTES BY REV. GEO.
P. HAYS, D. o., Il. D.

Lesson vi of the International Series
Fourth QUARTER, for Sunday. Nov. 8.
1ss7-Text of the Lesson, Matt. I. 3e-
42-GOlden Text, Matt. Z, Sc.
The last lesson was the call Of the apostles
10 apostleShip. In this lesson we have a
statement of the results which should follow
from the faithful discharge of their duties,
and especially of the principles upon which
Jesus Christ, as final judge, would estimate
the treatment of them as his ambassadors on
the part of the world
Confession.-It will be seen bv the mar
ginal reading in the revised version that the
expression in the Greek is confess in me and
l will confess in him" This intimates that
the Christian here is so to make his confess
sion to Christ that it shall not be an external
cloak put on as something separate from
himself, but as part of his internal and spir-
itual life.
Continuing habit.-This form of phrase
ology shows that the confession, both on his
part and on ours, is not a temporary rela-
tlonshlp, but is permanent, abiding and
growing habit of our spiritual life.
This principle here applied by Christ to
the final Judgment is simply the ordinary
rule of good society. We may feel wounded
by temporary detection of one of our
friends; but we estimate them not on the
basis of an occasional fault, but on their
permanent behavior and characteristics.
Nothing can be more irrational for those
who thus act in their intercourse with their
fellow man than to expect Christ to deal
otherwise with them.
Peace or war.-Verses 81, 81 and 36 are in
strange contrast with our notions Of the
coming OF the prince of peace. But Christ
came to send peace to his friends and among
his friends, and not to make peace with his
enemies. Very often the argument is urged
against an aggressive warfare in behalf of
morality in the community that it will stir
up strife, as if peace should be bought at the
price OF unbridled evil. Why should good
people yield their principles for the sake of
peace any more than bad people?
Extreme cases.-In this country il is NOT
often that families are so divided that their
controversies reach the climax described in
verse 35; and yet filial duty and parental
authority have not unfrequently been used to
induce Christians to do wrong. It is an ex-
treIne case, but not an impossible one. that
young Christians should be pushed to choose
between their own households and their duty
to Cod
Personal feeling.-We are apt to assume
that all suffering lies on the side of doing
right, and that the surrender of conscience is
a sure road to relief from trouble. Verse 81
raises this question of personal preference and
affection. There is a wonderful deuth of
meaning in that phrase worthy of me-" 1t
is twice used in this one verse, and covers the
whole question of initiating Christ For the
love of lost race he gave up the glories Of
heaven for the path of duty midst suffering
on earth.
The cross-Verse 80 seems perfectly clear
to US as the word 1.-The cross comes with all
the associations that have gathered round it
for the past eighteen centuries Cruciixion,
however, was not a common form of punish
ment among the Jews. When, therefore, this
sentence was uttered before the cruciixicn,
its meaning must have been very obscure to
these disciples. This is an admirable iIlustra-
tion of what is meant in john XII, 16. The
words his cross" indicate that each one has
his own peculiar burden to bear
Profit and loss.-Verse 80 is a question Of
the supreme motive, and puts life as the rep
resentative of ease in contrast with duty and
the approval of conscience. If everything
IS to be sacrificed for ease the probability is
ease will not be attained. Egotism and
seltishness generally defeat themselves
Business principles in reigion--Money
paid to the collector of bank is counted as
if paid to the bank. In verse 40 this prin-
c1ple, universal among men, is adopted by
the Saviour When ministers preach the
Gospel, and Sabbath school teachers teach
Gods truth, and good people invite men to
the Saviour, they do not speak in their own
name. Christ will take every response to his
invitation delivered through the lips Of his
people as if that response had been made to a
message delivered by himself. Verse Al is
simply this principle set forth as regards
thousands who hear the message, as well as
with reference to the messenger.
Small matters.-Verse ~ has this principle
brought down to daily concerns. Many little
children in the mission schools out Of their
poverty will give their teachers a token of
affection, which to the teacher may have
small value in itself, but will be very precious
to that teacher for the appreciation it indi-
Gates. In the country where this verse was
spoken water is not very plentiful, and cold
water is a still scarcer article The gift,
therefore, of ''cold water would indicate a
thoughtful intention and some effort on the
part of the giver When now this thought
and effort are the result of an intention to
recognize Christ in the person of the disciple,
why should Christ fail to reward those who
expressly, for his sake, have done this little
act of kindness?
This last calls for five things on the part of
Gods people: confession of their love, CON
fiict with evil, comparison of results between
right and wrong, sacrifice of present ease TO
duty, and acceptance of the government Of
the Saviour. 1t calls for four things from
Christ towards his people: acknowledgment
of those who are faithful to the command of
duiy, testing them by trial, rewarding them
for faithfulneSs, and recognition of them in
the day OF Judgment. These are correlative
the one to the other. Our confession will be
acknowledged by Christ. In the conflict with
evil, we are simply obeying his command;
in our comparison of results between present
comfort and everlasting life, we are tested in
his sight; when we sacrifice self and ease for
for his sake, he comes with his reward; when
VIC accept his control, he recognizes our SER
vice.